If you’ve never been a dental implant patient before, the concept and process can be confusing and foreign as implants are not what most people think of as day-to-day dentistry. However, implants quickly became the gold standard for tooth replacement after being introduced to dentistry in the early 1980s due to how versatile and predictable they are.
Dental implants are made of titanium, one of the most bio-compatible materials on the market, which means even if you have a metal allergy you are still likely to be an excellent candidate for implants. The implant is designed to function as the root of a tooth, meaning it is placed entirely in the jaw bone, just as your tooth’s natural root is. The top portion of the implant can be a single tooth, a part of a bridge helping to replace multiple teeth, or a component designed to improve a denture or partial denture.
All-on-4 is heavily advertised as an ideal solution mainly because it’s cheaper to provide only 4 implants. Unfortunately, if one of the 4 implants fails, that bridge is rendered useless. That means that after going through the investment and the process of having implants placed and a non-removable implant bridge made, a patient would have to be down-graded to a removable denture because 3 implants can’t support the original design.
We utilize “All on X” which means typically 6 or more. Our goal is to have the most predictable, long-term success as possible, so we prefer to over-engineer rather than do the bare minimum. In a scenario where an implant has problems, a prosthesis supported by more than four implants can still be maintained and supported predictably and the patient does not have to wear a removable denture.
At Atlanta Dental Spa, we strive to be as conservative as possible. It’s the responsible way to conduct dentistry. In the old days, it used to be “crown or filling” was the only restoration option from your family dentist. Now, with advancements in adhesion protocols and porcelain systems we can offer more conservative options like inlays and onlays. In certain instances where we are replacing an existing crown or there is a lot of decay or damage to the tooth the best option might be a full coverage crown. Our crowns have NO METAL. Nothing replicates natural enamel and dentin better than porcelain.
At Atlanta Dental Spa, we give people a denture that’s indistinguishable from natural teeth, including the gums. We go as far as to even tint the gum tissue to make it look extremely natural. Our goal is that you won’t be able to tell you’re wearing a denture. We use the best materials, the best teeth, and the best techniques to fabricate an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous denture that will fool anyone. People won’t know it’s a denture!
Take stock of where you live, work, and spend the majority of your time. Maybe you live outside the perimeter, but work inside the perimeter. Atlanta is a massive city; do you mind commuting to your dentist’s office? Look for a practice that’s close to where you spend the most time or along one of the major thoroughfares you travel regularly. When you’re rushing from a business meeting to make it to that dentist appointment you almost forgot about, you’ll be glad to have chosen an office that’s right around the corner.
Each of our locations offers front door, street-level parking. No parking garages. No stairs to climb. No parking in a shopping center that’s super far from the front door! Everyone appreciates convenience and efficiency, especially when it comes to parking.
Atlanta Dental Spa offers four convenient locations: one in the heart of Buckhead, one in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood, a location in East Cobb, and our newest location in Johns Creek just off exit 7 on 400. Our patients are more than welcome to visit any of our offices as their schedule requires, so there’s no battling traffic to get your teeth cleaned. Convenience is something to smile about!
An office that offers too many services can be a red flag. Ever heard the phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none?” A dentist who does root canals all day probably isn’t the best candidate to be crafting your porcelain veneers, but it happens all the time. Legally, a licensed dentist can perform any dentistry procedure, from extractions, to gum surgery, to orthodontics, and a few minutes later do a cosmetic procedure like porcelain crowns or veneers. It’s similar to asking an expert bricklayer to also choose your window coverings and the perfect fabric for your living room sofa. It sounds crazy!
While the two disciplines are related, they’re completely different areas of expertise. This is why it’s important to seek out a team of masters. We have multiple dentists on staff, each with their own specific area of proficiency. In cosmetic dentistry, finding a master ceramist is equally important as being a master dentist. A master ceramist is trained in the science of smile design, making sure each tooth is expertly crafted for the mouth and face it will belong to. Once your ideal smile design is laid out, our team uses the finest, ultra-thin ceramics to create beautiful pearly whites. None of those dreaded “Chiclet teeth!”
At Atlanta Dental Spa we take a comprehensive approach to dentistry, building a healthy body from the foundation of a healthy mouth; a true focus on total health. Healthy gums lower our risk for developing diabetes, pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer, while gum therapy improves blood vessel health and helps prevent heart attack and stroke. This is because the same plaque that builds up on our teeth can build up in our arteries and heart, creating blockages. Proper dental care calls for a visit to the dentist twice a year. This is likely more often than you see any other physician, especially if you’re generally in good health.
Complete health dentistry means your dentist can spot warning signs and even diagnose dangerous health conditions while you’re in the chair, sometimes when you’re completely unaware there’s a problem.